Few Smashing Pumpkins fans realized it at the time, but the group’s 1995 double LP, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, was the start of a loose storyline about a character known as Zero, who was reborn as Glass on 2000’s Machina/The Machines of God. Two decades later, Billy Corgan is revisiting the whole saga on the triple album Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts, where the central figure — now known as Shiny — has been exiled in space. “For a while I thought this new album was never going to happen because the band’s enthusiasm was suspect,” Corgan says. “But the pandemic was a watershed moment for me. I thought, ‘What’s happening in the world, I have no control over. At least I control the world of Shiny and his friends.’ ”
You’re trusting your fans to follow a pretty complex story with this album. Did you worry many of them wouldn’t be able to do it?
It’s actually hard-baked in there that most people won’t follow the story. It doesn’t really bother me, because it’s the same way for Mellon Collie and Machina. Most people don’t know what the records are really about. They’re focused on their favorite drum solo or whatever. It’s fine.
They can follow the story in a lot more detail on your new podcast.
I had a lot of people tell me that no one would listen. Well, that’s fine, too.… If you went back in a time machine to me 30 years ago, I would be plagued by the idea that not every person was paying attention. Now, I’m almost pleasantly surprised that people pay attention. That’s the icing on the cake.
This story is from the May 2023 edition of RollingStone India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2023 edition of RollingStone India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Diljit Dosanjh on 'Amar Singh Chamkila' and International Collabs
All eyes are on Netflix’s latest biopic on the life of a legendary Punjabi voice, which is essayed by the singer-actor
FAISAL KAPADIA ON TURNING TO SYNTH-POP AND HIS FAVORITE INDIAN INDIE ACTS
ONE HALF OF LEGENDARY PAKISTANI POP-ROCK DUO STRINGS, KAPADIA TALKS ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM ‘COKE STUDIO’ TO HIS SOLO ALBUM ‘ZINDAGI JAHAAN LE JAAYE’ AND A POTENTIAL COLLABORATION WITH ANKUR TEWARI, KARSH KALE AND ARNOB
The Amy Winehouse Business Is Booming
Thirteen years after the retro-soul singer’s death, tribute bands, album reissues, and a new biopic are keeping her rebel spirit alive
'No Filter Neha': B-Town Celebs at Their Unfiltered Best
No Filter Neha' is spilling the beans while also providing insightful analyses of celebrity narratives that are worth learning about, capturing the essence of human experiences and emotions
Tiger Baby Records Unveils 'Dance With Me,' a Funky Collaboration with SoBo House of Music
The EP includes vocals by students from SoBo House of Music
Kathleen Hanna
The punk icon on her memoir, Lyme disease, and Kurt Cobain
BECOMING A.C.E
TAKING IT FROM BUSKING TO COVERING POPULAR DANCE CHOREOGRAPHIES TO THEIR BEGINNINGS TO BECOMING K-POP ARTISTS, AND THEN COMING BACK AFTER A HIATUS, A.C.E’S STORY IS AN INUNDATION OF FOND MEMORIES
Omar Apollo
The Mexican American star on befriending SZA, jamming out to Beyoncé, and making music for arenas
'Khosla Ka Ghosla' Composer Dhruv Dhalla Has New Music and a New Perspective
The keyboardist and composer’s next song will appear in Bollywood film ‘Mr. & Mrs. Mahi,’ with singer Kavita Seth and lyricist Devendra Kafir
The Highs and Lows of Girl in Red
The super-relatable pop singer from Norway is ready for her close-up after touring with Taylor